Frequently Asked Questions about Credentials

Earning a Second Credential

If you have a valid Multiple Subject Credential earned through a California based credential program and now want a Single Subject Credential you must do the following:

Meet subject matter competency either by waiver or exam(s) in the subject you are seeking a Single Subject Credential; contact the Credentials Office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu if you are unsure of what exams to take.

Take a secondary teaching methodology (that is not reading) course at a university with an approved credential program; at Sonoma State we recommend EDSS 444 in the desired subject area; contact the department chair at jessica.parker@sonoma.edu to obtain permission to take the methods course and instruction on registration.

Once you have these requirements met, contact the Credential Analyst who will file for your credential directly with the state. (707-664-3141) For more information please email the Credentials Office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu

Take an elementary teaching methodology (that is not reading) course at a University with an approved Credential Program; contact the department chair at se.campbell@sonoma.edu to obtain permission to take the methods course and instruction on registration.

Take an elementary teaching reading course and take and pass RICA; at Sonoma State you must contact the department chair at se.campbell@sonoma.edu to obtain advising and permission to take the course and instructions on registration.

Once you have both of these requirements met, contact the Credential Analyst who will file for your credential directly with the state. (707-664-3141) For more information please email the Credentials Office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu

If you have a valid Single Subject Credential and now want a second Single Subject Credential in another subject area you must do the following:

Meet subject matter competency either by waiver or exam(s) in the subject you are seeking a Single Subject Credential; contact the credentials office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu if you are unsure of what exams to take.

Take a methodology course in the subject that you want to add at a University with an approved Credential Program: at Sonoma State you the department chair at jessica.parker@sonoma.edu to obtain advising and instructions on registration.

Once you have this requirement met, you can apply directly to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for your second credential; visit http://www.ctc.ca.gov/ for more information or

Once you have these requirements met, contact the Credential Analyst who will file for your credential directly with the state. (707-664-3141) For more information please email the Credentials Office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu.

If you have a valid Multiple or Single Subject credential and now want to earn an Education Specialist Preliminary Credential, you must do the following:

Apply to and enroll in a Preliminary Education Specialist Credential program. While your Multiple or Single Subject Credential may help you meet some of the requirements for the Preliminary Education Specialist program, you must still complete a Preliminary Education Specialist credential program to be eligible for the credential.

If you have a valid Education Specialist Credential and now want to earn a Multiple or Single Subject Credential, you must do the following:

Apply to and enroll in a Multiple or Single Subject Credential program. Your Education Specialist Credential may help you meet some of the requirements for the Multiple or Single Subject Credential. However, you must still complete a Multiple or Single Subject Credential program to be eligible for the credential you are seeking.

General Questions

Generally speaking, if you are seeking employment in a public elementary, middle/junior or high school in California you will need to obtain an appropriate credential.

The answer to this question depends on the type of employment as a teacher you are seeking; some districts hire teachers on Intern Credentials while others may only hire teachers with Preliminary or Professional Clear credentials; email the credentials office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu with your specific question about employment for a more accurate response to this question.

If you have been out of the program and the University for more than 1 semester, you must do the following:

email the credentials office at: credentials.office@sonoma.edu regarding your plans to return – please remember to give us a complete name, any previous names, and the program you were admitted to – we will forward the information to the appropriate department in the School of Education.

reapply to the University as a “Postbac” student by the appropriate deadline (call or email the Credentials Office for deadline information).

If you have been out of the program and the university for only one semester, you must do the following:

email the credentials office at: credentials.office@sonoma.edu regarding your plans to return – please remember to give us a complete name, any previous names, and the program you were admitted to – we will forward the information to the appropriate department in the School of Education.

If you are not sure if you filed for a leave of absence, email the credentials office at credentials.office@sonoma.edu for assistance and instructions on how to return.